Myeongdong Station lunch, no wait at 11am: neungi yakgomtang, Baekok
In short
Baekok Myeongdong is a pork gomtang (pork bone soup) restaurant tucked into an alley off Exit 6 of Myeongdong Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a weekday visit at 11am with her dad, the writer ordered a medium regular gomtang, a medium yakgomtang with neungi mushroom, and cabbage dumplings, and found toryeom-style rice already ladled into a clear broth with no gamey smell. Baekok Myeongdong is worth going to before noon, since the line stretches out once lunch hour starts.
Good to know
- Menu ordered
- Regular gomtang (medium), yakgomtang (medium), cabbage dumplings
- Alcohol
- Baekseju (herbal rice wine) available
- Visit time
- Weekday 11am — seated with no wait; line forms after 12pm
- Hours
- Mon–Sun 11:00–22:00
- Address
- B1 and 1F, 8-23 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (382m from Myeongdong Station Exit 6)
- Amenities
- Groups, takeout, reservations, delivery / Wi-Fi, mobile payment
as written by the visitor on Sep 15, 2026
Aloha~ A while back I went to Myeongdong with my dad and found a real, hidden gem of a pork gomtang (pork bone soup) place tucked deep into a super narrow alley right in the middle of Myeongdong! Let me introduce Baekok, a gomtang specialist near Myeongdong Station that draws an endless lunchtime line thanks to its clean, rich broth.
How long is the walk from Myeongdong Station to Baekok Myeongdong?
A hidden treasure in a Myeongdong alley I wish I could keep to myself
Baekok is very close to Myeongdong Station, but it sits inside an alley so narrow you'll wonder "is there even a restaurant here?" The sign is barely visible from outside, so following the map felt pretty unfamiliar — but once we arrived, it genuinely felt like finding buried treasure!
It's newly opened and not visible from the main street, so older folks probably don't know about it yet, but younger customers were already lining up. The interior is really clean and tidy, so it'd be great to bring a foreign friend here, and it's plenty nice for a date spot too. We went on a weekday at 11am and got seated with no wait at all. I'd recommend going a bit earlier than actual lunchtime~
What is on the menu at Baekok Myeongdong?
The menu is very simple, centered on gomtang, and it feels genuinely specialized. My dad and I ordered a regular gomtang (medium), a yakgomtang (medium), and cabbage dumplings. They also sell baekseju (rice wine), so it's perfect if you want a little drink alongside the soup!
Regular gomtang vs neungi mushroom yakgomtang: how do they taste?
Baekok Myeongdong's regular gomtang is a clear, clean pork broth with no fat, while the yakgomtang is a restorative bowl made with neungi mushroom (a prized wild mushroom) and medicinal herbs. Both bowls come toryeom-style, with the rice ladled directly into the hot broth.
The food comes out pretty fast. It's toryeom-style with the rice already ladled in, but they must use good rice — the grains held their texture and never went mushy, even by the time we finished, which I really loved.
Even the "medium" size is generously packed with meat and rice, enough to satisfy most grown men.
Regular gomtang: a clear, clean pork broth with no fat, topped with plenty of boiled pork slices and green onion. There's zero funky smell or spice flavor — it's simple. The seasoning is already balanced, so I just sprinkled a bit of the table pepper on top, and it tasted genuinely healthy and clean, with no MSG-like aftertaste.
Yakgomtang: made with neungi mushroom and various medicinal herbs, the flavor is remarkably delicate and refined. It doesn't taste off-putting like medicinal herbs sometimes can — instead it delivers a delicious, deep flavor. My dad, who came along, raved that it was genuinely delicious — it's a hearty, restorative bowl that people of any age or gender would enjoy!
Are the cabbage dumplings worth adding?
A perfect match for the soup: spicy, tangy cabbage dumplings
If you go to Baekok, definitely try adding the cabbage dumplings! It's kimchi dumpling filling wrapped inside steamed napa cabbage leaves, and since the gomtang bowls we ordered weren't spicy, the pleasant lightness and tangy kick of these dumplings made a perfect match. They're also a great side when the amount of cold boiled pork feels like too much.
Walking out after the meal, I noticed they'd thoughtfully set out mouthwash and candy, which made me even happier~
Once it passes noon, a long line forms quickly — it's the kind of charming spot only people in the know find. If you're looking for a hearty, clean lunch spot in Myeongdong, make sure to visit Baekok, a hidden gem tucked into the alley!
Directions and store details for Baekok Myeongdong
It's tucked deep inside an alley, so be sure to reference the walking route below when you visit!
- Address: B1, 1F, 8-23 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea (382m from Myeongdong Station Exit 6)
- Walking route 1: Exit 6 of Myeongdong Station (Jeonghwa Arts College), then go straight ahead
- Walking route 2: Turn left at the AHC flagship store and walk 70m
- Walking route 3: Turn left again at Yoyogurt and walk 44m — Baekok is inside the alley
- Hours: Mon–Sun, every day 11:00–22:00
- Amenities: group seating available, takeout, reservations, and delivery all supported / Wi-Fi and easy payment supported
- Tip: there's currently a coupon event offering a free drink for writing a review
Where it is
B1, 1F, 8-23 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 중구 명동8길 8-23 지하1층, 1층
